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PR 6003 
.R38 S4 
1911 
Copy 1 



.caring off of Teddy Dawson 

(HAROLD BRIGHOUSE.) 

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THE SCARING OFP^ OF 
TEDDY DAWSON 



THE SCARING OFF OF 
TEDDY DAWSON 



A COMEDY IN ONE 
ACT 



By 
HAROLD BRIGHOUSE 



Copyright, 191 i. bv Samuel French, Ljit/riTED 



New York , London 

SAMUEL FRENCH ! SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd 

Publisher 26 Southampton Street 

■30 WEST 38TH STREET S IRANi) 



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©CI.D 1^3816 



THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY 
DAWSON 

Produced on April 7, 191 1, at the Dalston Theatre, London, 
with the following cast of characters : — 

Andrew Bettesworth (a Navvy) 
Polly Bettesworth (his Wife) 
Liza Bettesworth (his Daughter) 
Teddy Dawson (her Lover) 

The Scene is the interior of a small East End house. 



1 



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Strand, London. 
01" their authorized representatives. 

The fee of fiiteen shillings for each and every ama- 
teur representation must be paid prior to perform- 
ances and a written autiiority obtained for the 
production of the play. 

Any costumes or wigs required in the performance 
of " The Scaring Off of Teddy Dawson," may be 
hired or purchased reasonably from Messrs. Chas. H. 
Fox, Ltd., 27, Wellington Street, Strand. London. 



THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY 
DAWSON ';i: ' 

Living room of a small house in an East End side- street. 
Door direct to street hack centre. Next it, ivindow. 
Door to house l. Kitchen range r. Dres^ser with 
crockery l. Centre is a table. Four deal chairs. 
At the table Polly Bettesworth is ironing as the 
curtain rises. She is no more than fifty, but a hard 
life has aged her in appearance beyond her years. A 
cheap serge skirt and a dark printed blouse,' ivith 
elastic-sided boots, form her visible attire., Her 
hMsband (Andrew) throws open the door c. and 
enters rapidly from street. He is a noivvy, dressed in 
corduroy, with a leather belt, and is in J:is shirt 
sleeves, having been to ike nearest public for the 
Slipper beer, which is in a large fug in his ■ hand 
He is a large man, and Polly seems small by con- 
start. It is evening, but still light. 

Andrew [angrily). Where's our Liza ? 

Polly. What do yer want 'er for ? 

Andrew (closing door). Vm goin' to tan 'er 'ide 
for 'er. 

Polly. What's to do ? (Calmly continuing iron- 
ing.) 

Andrew (crossing to door l.). I'll put beer in back 
to keep cool an' then I'll tell yer. (Opens left door, 
leaves jug inside and closes door again.) Now. do yer 
know wot I've bin 'earing in the Bluebell abart our 
Liza ? 

Polly. Tell me. 



THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON. 



m 



Andrew. Liza's started courtin' ! Tliat's wot 
that whistlin's "bin as we've bin 'earing so much 
lately. 

Polly {stopping ironing). Courtin' ! At 'cr age ? 

Andrew. It's Gawd's truth. Wait while I catch 
the bloke wot's after 'er. I'll skin 'im alive. 

Polly (sitting). Liza courtin' ! I don't know wot 
things is comin' to nowadays. Young girls are 
gettin' a set of forward hussies that haven't hardly 
laid by their skipping-ropes afore they're thinkin' 
they're ould enough to get wed. I fancied we'd 
brought 'er up different to that. 

Andrew. I'll fanc}^ 'er — 'er an' 'er fancy man, an' 
all. I'll teach 'im to come round 'ere whistling for 
our Liza. We ain't partin' with Liza yet. She's the 
only 'un left to us now. 

Polly. Yus. T'other girls went off a sight too 
young. Fust Martha an' then Sally must be havin' 
their blokes an' gettin' wed. But I didn't think it of 
Liza. She's kept 'er mouth shut. Them quiet 'uns 
are always deep. 

Andrew\ Nature 'uU 'ave its ws-y with 'em so 
what you do. (Fiercely.) But I'll spoil this chap's 
little game. I don't like 'im, not arf like 'im I don't. 

Polly. Who is 'e ? 

Andrew. Teddy Dawson's 'is name. 

Polly (risi^ig). Teddy Dawson ! Wild as they 
make 'em that chap is. 'E's after no good with Liza . 

Andrew. I'll mar 'is good looks if I catch 'im. 
'E'll not be so keen On comin' an' whistlin' at street 
corner like a canary in a fit. And I'll give Liza the 
taste of my strap an' all. 

Polly (firmly). Yer'll not touch tlie girl, Andrew. 

Andrew. Who won't ? 

Polly. I'll give 'er a piece of my mind. 

Andrew. An' I'll give 'er a piece of my belt. 

Polly. Yer won't. Me an' yer didn't arsk our 
old 'uns for leave to start courtin'. Liza ull go the 
way o' all flesh when 'er time comes. 



THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON, " 9 

Andrew. Yus, but 'er time ain't come yet, not by 
a bloomin' long chalk, an' I'll make 'er know it. 

Polly. Yer leave Liza to me. Yer can do wot 
yer loike with Teddy Dawson an' welcome. 

Andrew. I'll make 'im wish 'e'd never bin born. 

Polly. I dunno. Yer've tried that road twice — 
with Martha's man an' .Sally's. 

Andrew (reminiscently, gloating). I did an' all. 
They didn't 'ave much of a larky toime courtin'. I 
put strap abart both of 'em more than once. 

Polly. An' they only came the more. 

Andrew. Yus. Tliey was spunky fellows. This 
bloke 'uU not take it that way. 'E'll cut an' run. 

Polly. I'm not so sure it's the right road to 
scare 'em off. 

Andrew. It's the only rocad I knows of. Do yer 
think yer knows a better ? 

Polly. I dunno as I do. Hush ! There's Liza 
comin' downstairs. Now, keep yer mouth shut till 
I've had my say. 

[Enter l. Liza, a girl of sixteen, with black alpaca 
skirt to her ankles, gaudy stockings, cheap " flash " 
shoes, a purple blouse and a hat with coster feathers.) 

Polly. My word, Liza, yer do make yerself smart 
for evenin's. Yer might be courtin' the way yer've 
decked yerself. 

Liza. There's no 'arm in puttin' on a bit of finery, 
is there, mother ? If yer've got things, yer might as 
well show 'em. Don't do 'em no good to lie by in a 
drawer. 

Polly. Be careful, girl. Yer'll 'ave some fellow 
takin' a fancy to yer if yer go down the Mile End Road 
in that gear. Foine feathers don't make foine birds. 
(Liza tosses her head.) 

Andrew. Birds ! Yus. Puts me in moind of 
that crazed canary wot comes rahnd the 'ouse whist- 
lin' of an evenin'. (A whistle pipes a little tune at 



10 THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON. 

back.) Rot it ! There's the darned thing now. 
(Unbuckling bell.) I'll make 'im whistle if I catch 
'iin. (Liza runs to door c. to slop his way.) Now 
then, Liza, out of my wa}' if yer don't want a taste of 
this yerself. (Si^^ings strap round.) 'Ere, if yer've 
nothin' ter do in the 'ouse get orf to bed. Yer'Il not 
go out this night. (Exit swinging strap. Liza sits 
with her handkerchief to her eyes.) 

Polly (softly). Wot's to do with yer, Liza ? 
Liza. Oh, 'e'll 'urt 'im. 
Polly. 'Urt who ? Is any one there ? 
Polly. I — I don't know. 

, Polly (roughly). Yus yer do, yer young deceiver. 
Yer think yer've got a feller — yer that's just abart 
goin' into long skirts. I dunno w4iat the w^orld's 
comin' to. Young girls is that forward. 
Liza (rising). Will father 'urt 'im ? 
Polly (grimly). Depends which on 'em's the 
better man. 

Liza (tearfully). Oh ! 

Polly (kindly) . I dunno that 'e'll do 'im much 'urt . 
'E only means to frighten 'im orf comin' rahnd tryin; 
to court a girl that's too young to know w'ot marryin' 
means. Yer silly girl ! Toime 'ull com.e soon enough. 
'Ere, dry yer eyes an' come to yer mother. When 
proper time comes, yer '11 not foind us backward at 
lettin' yer go. It's not come yet by years. Yer taken 
by 'is looks an' 'is bold ways. It ain't looks as make 
a man. This 'un's one of them sort as bring woe to 
a girl wot's fool enough to wed 'em. 'E's your fust, 
but yer not 'is fust, not by many a one. 
Liza (indignantly). 'E says 1 am. 
Polly. Hark to that now^ Creditin' anytliing a 
feller tells yer wlien 'e's lurin' yer to 'is arms. (The 
whistle pipes l. Liza hears it and jerks up her head. 
Polly fails to notice it.) Eh., not that I blame yer so 
muc]', yer too young to know different. P'raps yer'd 
best go to yer bed, as yer father said, an' 'ave yer cry 
out. ' Yer']] Ix^ better in the mornin'. 



THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON. 1 1 

Liza i(witk a quick look off L. in the direction of ihc, 
whistling). All right, mother. (She reaches ike door; 
losses her head defiantly and exit l. Polly gct:^ some 
matches and is about to light the gas when Andrew 
opens the door c. and returns buckling on his belt. 
It is growing' gradually darker, ' PbLLY puts the' match 
box down unused.) 

Polly. Well, 'ave yer trounced 'im ? 

Andrew: No. ' 'E dodg-ed me some'ow an I 'card 
is darned whistle goin' impudent afterward J 
'reckon 'e wants to get 'er out. but I'll watch 'im at 
it. 

Polly. Liza's goni to bed to 'ave 'er cry out. 
She'll get over it by mornin'. Young 'uns don't take 
love bad. (V/histle sounds off l.) 

Andrew {moving to door c). Darn 'im for a piece 
of brassen im.pudence ! If*I don't break an' spoil 'is 
whistle for 'im, my name's not Andrew Bettesworth. 
I'll raise a lump on 'is thick 'ead big enough for 'im' 
to 'ang 'is 'at on. 

Polly (draining Iiim with her fiand on fiis arm). 
I'm not so sure, Andrew. I've bin thinkin' as that's 
not right road o' dealin' with 'im. 

x\ndrew. Right or wrong, 'e'll feel the weight of 
my belt with my arm behind it wlien I catch 'ira. 

Polly. I'll tell yer wot I'm thinkin. Yer leathered 
the fellers wot cam.e after Martha an' Sally, but it, 
didn't choke 'em orf. Made 'em all the keener.' 
Made 'cm think the girls was jewels, or yer'd not make 
so much fuss abart lettin' go of 'em. Let this feller 
think the girl's a wrong 'un an' 'e'll cool orf quick 
enough. 

Andrew\ Well, so they arc je^vels, an' Liza's the 
best of the bunch. 

Polly. Yus, o' course she is, but you don't neeri 
to let 'im know it. Make 'im think yer'd be glad to 
^Qt sliut of 'er. Then 'e'll start thinkin' there's some- 
thin' wrong abart the girl an' leave er' alone. 

Andrew, [shaking her off). Garn, that's all 



12 THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON. 

woman's bunkum. It takes a man to d al with a 
job like this 'ere. Wot 'e wants is a thick ear an' 
I'll. stick it out till I catch 'im an' give it 'im an all. 
{Unbuckling his belt and going out centre. Polly 
removes her ironing from table. Suddenly she assumes a 
listenin attitude, then tiptoes to the door L. and opens it 
quieily. Tebdy and Liza, are standing just outside it. 'He 
has his arm round her waist. He is a good looking young 
man, short, dark, clean-shaven in a shoddy suit with 
muffler round his neck.) 

Teddy. I love yer so I could eat yer. 
Polly. Yer'd 'ave a foine belly ache, an all, if 
'er flesh were as sour as 'er temper. (Teddy stands 
amazed, then begins to move away.) Yer'd never run 
from a wom.an, would yer ? (Teddy stops.) Come 
in. I'm sure yer welcome. (Teddy and Liza enter, 
suspicious and reluctant. *Polly hands a chair out.) 
Sit yer down. Don't be shy. Yer welcome to come 
'ere if yer '11 do yer courtin' proper an' drop yer dancin' 
abart outside with that whistle of yours. 'Ticin' 
Liza out after she's bin sent to bed. Yer slipped out 
()' back door I reckon, Liza ? 
Liza (timidly). Yus, mother. 
Polly. I thought so. (Cordially.) Well, yer'll 
' ave no need to carry on that road now. We're goin' 
tc 'ave this square an' straight. Liza, I'm sure Mr. 
Dawscn's ready for a bit of supper. There ain't 
ncthing like peckin' a bit together when you want to 
get friendly. (Finishing the removal of ironing from 
table.) Now, Liza, get a move on. Where's that 
piece of boiled bacon as we found good chewing yester- 
day ? Bustle rounel, girl. (Liza takes a cloth from 
dresser, spreads on table and lays plates, etc., for two, 
putting out the bacon, a tin loaf, and butter.) 

Polly (drawing tip a chair to Teddy's confiden- 
tially). Yer see, Mr. Dawson, I'm glad yer come in. 
I 'aven't arf liked yer plan of workin'. Comin' 'ere an' 
whistlin' abart the 'ouse as if yer felt feared o' bein' 
seen. (Teddy .s7////.s uncomfortably.) But that's all 



THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON. 13 

over now. We're goin' to 'ave that altered. {Look- 
ing round at table.) Where's yer 'ead. Liza ? Do yer 
think Mr. Dawson can face 'is supper dry? {Rising.) 
There's some beer in the back. I'll go an' fetch it, 
{Looking round as she reaches the door l.) It's gettin' 
a bit dark in 'ere, Liza. Thhigs 'ull look more cheer- 
ful with a light on. It'll give 3'er somethin' ter do 
ter keep yer out of mischie^ while I'm gorn. {Exit 
Polly l. Liza immediately lights the gas and puis 
the blind down. Teddy rises.) 

Teddy. Well, blime, Liza, this beats everything. 
Wot made yer tell me they'd be against it if they 
knew ? 

Liza. I don't understand this no more than yer 
do. They didn't set abart it this road with my 
sisters' fellers. 

Teddy. Looks like she s took a fancj^ to me, 
Nothin' surprisin' in that neither. Yer've got a 
sight better kind of a man than yer sisters ever 'ad. 

Liza. That's right enough, Teddy, but I don't like 
looks of this. Father used to leather Sally's 
bloke. 

Teddy. I'm not afraid of 'im so long as I'm on 
right side of the missus. I knaw who wears 'em in 
this 'ouse, an' it ain't the (;]d man. Yus, Liza, there 
ain't nothin' to complain of so far. {Sitting and put- 
ting his thumbs in his waistcoat ar^nholes.) Yer 
never know yer luck. This 'ere weren't looked for. 
I'll not be whistiin' out there for yer termorrer night. 
Not csi. I'll walk in at door an' 'angmy 'at up loike 
as if IJowned the place. {Looking round.) Tidy few 
bits of sticks \^er've got an all, Liza. 

Liza. It ain't so bad. '^ 

Teddy. No. I sa}^, Liza, if the missus don't like 
yer sisters' 'usbands she'll be glad to see yer wed a 
man she's taken a fancy to. Fond of yer, I reckon, 
too, eh, Liza ? 

Liza. Yus. 

Teddy. Yus. Too fond to part. See wot I 



14 THE SCARIlSrG OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON. 

mean ? They'll arsk us to live 'ere arter we're wed. 
Gettin' on, too, they are. Can't last for e\'er. 

Liza. Wot are yer gettin' at ? 

Teddy. Nothin' particklar. It just struck me 
there's a nice pair of shoes to* step into 'ete. This is 
goin' to be a bit of- all right,- Liza. I tjiusj: keep on the 
sweet ' sid^. o'f yer ' mother. ' 

Liza (bridling). I dunno what yer've .^ot in yer 
'ead, Teddy DalwSoh.' I don't call to moind 'avin' said 
I'd wed yer. I've not bin arsked that I know of. 

Teddy {releasing his thumbs and coming to her). 
I'm arskin' yer now, ain't I ? 

Liza. I'm not goin' ter be arsked now. When 
I'm arsked I'll be arsked proper, an' it'll not be in 
between while mother fetches the beer. Yer makin' 
a bit too sure an all, so yer can put that in yer pipe an' 
smoke it. Don't be in too much of a 'uny abart me 
nor them shoes of my father's wot yer mentioned 
either. 

Teddy (trying to put his arm round her). 'Ere, I 
say, Liza, yer not offende 1 are yer ? 

Liza Yer'd best be careful of yer tongue. 

Teddy. Well, I'll arsk an' arsk till yer say yer'll 
'ave me. I'm deep in love an' I'll not take no for 
an answer. 

Liza (softly). P'raps yer'll not get it neither when 
yer arsk proper. 

Teddy. That's rig]]t. Give us a kiss for a night 
cap, Liza. 

Liza (shyly). I don't think I ought. 

Teddy. Why not ? Wot's come over yer ? 
Yer've taken many a score out in the street an' giver 
as good as yer took, an all. 

Liza. I know. I dunno. Seems like street's one 
thing an' inside's another. It don't seem same thing 
with the gas on. 

Teddy. Turn un low if yer feared o' the light. 

Liza. Mother might catch us. 

Teddy. That don't signify. She arsked me in 



THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON. 15 

an' told me to do my courtin' proper. I don't call it 
proper courtin' for yer to go to yer bed without a kiss 
on yer lips fur company. 

Liza. I must get used to it fust. (Teddy is 
turning gas down.) Yer leave that gas be. I'll 
scream out. (Teddy turns gas tip.) 

Teddy. Look 'ere. Liza, yer darned stand-oftish 
all at once. Yer weren't above kissin' me in street. 

Liza {apologetically). It don't seem, same thing in 
the 'ouse no'ow, Teddy. 

Teddy. \Ye wouldn't li\-e in street if we were 
wed. 

Liza {with conviction). No. That's what keeps 
striking me. It don't seem same fun in the 'ouse. 
(Teddy approaches her again with resolution.) Here's 
m,other ! (Teddy retreats. Enter Polly, with the 
beer jug, which she puts on the table.) 

Polly. 'Ere it is. Why, Liza, where's yer wits 
bin wool-gatherin' ? Yer've put no glasses out.) 
(Liza hurriedly puts two glasses from dresser on table. 
Garn, yer've no need to colour up like that if yer did 
forget 'tir. I'm not so old myself I've forgot my 
court ii^' i\r\'-. There ain't nothink surprisin' if y^Y 
did forget when yer lover's with yer. Well, sit yer 
down, Mr. Dawson. 

Teddy (sitting quite confidently now). Thank yer. 

Polly [drawing up a chair for herself, facing him] 
Yer'd best go to. bed, Liza ; yer've bin sent there twice 
ternight. Don't stare like that. Me an' Mr. Daw- 
son's got to get acquaint an' I reckon I'm old enough 
to do without 'avin' yer for a chaperone. 

Liza {reluctantly). K\\ right. Good-noight, mother. 

Polly {mimicking). Good-noight, mother ! Is that 
all yer've got ter say ? 

Liza. Yus. As far as I know. 

Polly. Well, if yer keep yer mouth shut the 1 kes 
o' that when yer wed, Teddy 'ull be in clover. Wot ? 
Oh, I see. Took yer charnce with 'im while I got beer, 
did yer ? Righto. Sling yer 'ook. (Liza goes 



16 THE SCARING OFF OF TP:DDY DAWSON. 

out L. under protest.) Now then. Mr. Dawson, we can 
be comfortable. 

Teddy. 'Ere, where's Mr. Bettesworth ? 

Polly [assuming during the ensuing scene an air oj 
rollicking camaraderie). 'E's all right. Out lookin' 
for somebody, only 'e ain't lookin' in right place. 
Don't yer worry abart 'im. Now, yer'll ave a bit of 
bacon ? 

Teddy [reassured again). I don't mind if I do. 

I'OLLY [cutting and handing). Righto. Bread's 
on yer side. (Polly helps herself to bacon and accepts 
u slice of bread from Teddy. They eat without forks, 
using bread instead and show no objection to putting 
knives in their mouths.) 

Polly [sarcastically). 1 didn't know yer was 
teetotal. 
, Teddy. I ain't. 

Polly. Well, beer was brewed for drinkin', 
(Teddy pours himself a glass and drinks modestly.) 

Teddy [replacing glass). Ah ! 

Polly. Sup it up. I like a man that can take 'is 
liquor. Yer drink as if it feared yer. (Teddy 
empties his glass.) That's better. [She passes her 
glass, he fills it and his own.) Now, Mr. Dawson, don't 
stint yerself. There ain't nothink like courtin' fur 
givin' an appetite. Yer ain't got much to say for 
yerself. I dunno. Young men don't seem so brisk 
at their courtin' as they was when I were a girl. 

Teddy [nettled). I don't think Tm pertiklar slow. 

Polly. Well, I'll give yer an instance. That gas. 
It were lighted the moment I left room. I saw gleam 
of it under door. My old man 'ud never 'ave lit it 
like that when 'im and me courted. 1 give yer a fair 
chance, an all. Yer don't fancy I allays take that 
long to pick up a jug o' beer, do yer ? 

Teddy. Yus, well that 'ud go down all right with 
some girls, but it ain't right way with Liza. 

Polly. Oh, yer know yer own business best, of 
course, i^ut yer'll. not be above takin' r. 'int from an 



THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON. 17 

old woman that was courted afore yer was born. 
Yer must make use o' yer charnces. Girls don't like 
a slow^ lover. 

Teddy. I'm not so shy, neither. 

Polly. Yer not eatin' much. A feller wants a bit 
o' somethin' as ull stick to 'is ribs when 'e's bin court- 
in'. Don't forget yer beer. Ain't there no more in 
jug ? (Teddy drinks up and refills.) Yer'il not get 
boozed on a drop like that, and who's to care if 
yer do ? Yer at 'ome 'ere. Drink up and 'ave 
another. 

Teddy (pushing plate and glass from him). I've 
'ad enough. [He rises.) 

Polly. I'll 'ave somethin' tastier in against yer 
come termorrer night. I suppose yer'il be 'ere 
(Polly rises.) 

Teddy (sulkily). I told Liza I would, but I'm not 
so sure if I can. 

Polly. Please yerself. Only yer'il keep 'er 
warm now yer've got so far if yer'il take my tip. 
Don't let a girl fancy yer coolin' orf. Now, under- 
stand, \er w^elcomc 'ere so long as ^^er break yerself 
of that v/histlin' 'abit. We'll expect yer termorrer. 

Teddy. I dunno as I'll be comin'. My mind's 
not made up yet. 

Polly. Yer mighty slow abart it. Wot's to do 
wi' yer ? 

Teddy. Nothing. (Polly puts her hand on his 
arm in a friendly way.) 

Polly. Because yer've no need to feel awkward 
T'whole thing 'ull be straight forward now. Yer've 
only to go in and win. 

Teddy. Yer a bit anxious abart it. 

Polly. No, Mr. Dawson, no. Not anxious. 

Teddy (dogmatically) . Yer a sight too keen set on 
my winnin' for my taste. 

Polly (secretly rejoicing). Yus. Well, I've took 
a fancy to yer. 

Teddy (slyly). Sudden like. 'Ere, I've bin think- 



18 THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON. 

in' now, yer said somethin' a while back abart Liza's 
bein' a 'ot tempered 'un. 

Polly (as if much I'aken aback). No. Did I ? 
'Ot tempered did I say ? 

Teddy. Yus. 

Polly. Well, I can't deny she's a 'igh-spirited 
i^irl. 

Teddy. 'Igh-spirited, eh ? Liza didn't never 'ave 
much ter say for 'erself out in street. 

Polly (winking elaborately at him). That's 'er 
artfulness. Trust a girl to be careful when she's got 
'er eye on a man. 

Teddy (moving towards door). I think I'll go 'ome. 
Yer've give me a lot to think abart. 

Polly. I tell you wot, Mr. Dawson, yer slip in 
fur yer dinner on Sunday. Liza shall cook yer some- 
thin'. She ain't much good at cookin' but you'll 
enjoy it whatever it's loike when she's cooked it. 
Me an' the old man 'ull 'ave a walk round Park after- 
wards an' ver can 'ave the 'ouse to y erself with Liza. 
See what I mean ? 

Teddy. 1 don't know as I can come. 

Polly (as if deeply disappointed). Yer a bit slow- 
to my way of thinkin'. I'm doin' my best fur yer. 

Teddy. Yus. That's just it. 

Polly. Just what ? 

Teddy. Yer a fat sight too keen to be rid of the 
girl if yer want it straight. 

Polly. Don't say that. Fm onh- tryin' to 'el]-) 
yer. 

Teddy. Yer didn't 'elp blokes wot come after yer 
other girls only with yer old man's strap. 

Polly. Oh, but yer a very different sort to them, 
Mr. Dawson. 

Teddy. That's right enough. (Door l. opens 
softly and Liza peeps in. She leaves door ajar without 
entering.) 

Polly. Then we'll expect yer o' Sunday ? 

Teddy. No. Damned if ver will. Yer s]i()\'in' 



THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON. 19 

'er 'at me a sight too last. I'm thinkin' there's some- 
thin' wrong with 'er. or yer'd not be so humble abart 
it. Yer bally well beggin' me to 'ave 'er. I'm 'avin' 
none of yer bad bargains, with tongues an' tempers an' 
no good at cookin', thank yer. Yer can't fool me 
Mrs. Bettesworth. 

Polly. I'm sorry yer doubts me. Then we 
mustn't expect yer round never no more ? 

Te dy. No. I've seen through yer this time. 

Polly. It's very 'ard, very 'ard it is. Wot must 
I tell Liza ? 

Teddy. It's nothin' to me wot yer tells 'er. I'm 
goin' ome. (As he reaches the centre door, Andrew 
opens it and enters) 

Andrew [d.r awing back in amazement). Well, 
blime ! (Liza steps into the room. Teddy looks at the 
l. door as if to escape that ivay, hut sees her. Polly 
moves to Andrew.) 

Polly. Let 'im go, Andrew. 'E ain't worth 
wastin' leather on 'im. 'E won't ever come 'ere no 
more. 

Andrew. 'E'll ^Qt 'isself done in if 'e docs. Clear 
<mt. (Teddy loses no time. Andrew closes door. 
Liza goes to Polly.) 

Liza. Mother, do yer rccJly want ter get shut of 
me ? 

Polly. Oh, bin listenin' at key-'ole 'ave yer ? 
Well, listeners don't 'ear no good o' themselves. 

Liza. I couldn't go ter bed without knowin'. 
I'd got ter come dahn ter find out wot yer an' Teddy 
was say in'. 

Polly. Yer 'card 'e'll not come back. 

Liza. Yus. 

Polly. Are yer sorry ? 

Liza (hesitating). No — no — not if yer don't 
want ter get rid of me. Yer don't do yer ? Eather, 
mother, yer don't want me ter go I 

Andrew. We don't that. 

Liza. That's wot 'e said. 



20 THE SCARING OFF OF TEDDY DAWSON. 

Polly. 'E said a lot o' foolish things. No Liza 
we don't want yer to go. Yer the Hght o' our eyes. 
That chap 

Liza (fiercely). I 'ate 'im. 

Polly. Ah. See, Liza. (Takes her i hearth 
and shows her the motto on a grocer s calendar over it.) 
See that ? " East, West, home's best." Ain't that 
true ? Yer stick to yer 'ome a bit longer. Yer can 
take wings an' fly from yer nest when time comes. 
Yer sure yer not sorry 'e's gorn ? 

Liza (crying on Polly's shoulder). I want ter 
stay with yer. 

Polly (caressing her). That's right, Liza. 

Andrew (angrily approaching table), ^^'ho's drunk 
my supper beer ? 

Polly. 'Im. 

Andrew. Lll break 'is 

Polly. Wasn't it worth it to be rid of 'im ? 

Andrew\ Yus. Yer bloomin' old schemer. Yus. 
Yer plan worked it after all. 

Polly. It's bin a cure for love. 




X>X«a^WrXT«rG ROOWI 




\ 



L lu tuc laige size, dUc Ua,cK aoeae is 13 feet long and y feei biyti ctnu <^->- 
b the Wings and Borders to 20 feet long and 11 J feet high In the centre 
^h window, leading down to the ground, On the left wing is a fireplace 
^r ahove, and on the right wing is an oil painting. The whole scene is 
ornamented and beautifully coloured, forming a most elegunt picture. 
/e is a representation of a box scene consisting of 38 sheets of paper, 
sheets being used for the doors each side. 

£ s. d. 
^k Scene, Border, and 1 Set of Wings, unmounted .. ..200 

4,iiitto, mounted 4 4 

Back Scene, Border, with 2 Seits of Wings as above to form Box 

Scene, unmounted .. ..- ... .. .. 2 10 

Ditto, mounted .. « 5 5 

COTTAGE 




i.-( ckxso Eept in the large size only. In the centre is a dour i a.iti t .- Mt.f 
he left centre is a rustic fireplace, and the right centre is a window. « )u tl»* 
gs are painted shelves, «S:c., to complete the scene. The above is a repre-en 
m of this scene with 1 set of Wings only (not a Box Scene), but a Box Seen* 
t>e made by purchasing the extra set of Wings. Prices and size same a? 
ring Rooin Scene above 



FRENCH'S ACTING EDITION-Ts. per LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



VOLUME 160 
aS6 The Dentist 
«2S7 Taken for Granted 
1238 Just an Well 
2239 Uoguiany 
221U Pansy 

2241 A Doctor's Engage- 
ments 
2342 A Duet 

2243 My Milliner's Bill, Is. 

2244 My Aunt from Cali- 

fornia 
K45 His Life for Hers 

2246 'I'he Meeting 

2247 The Umbrella 

Duologue 

2248 The Late LHiuented 
2.i49 Woman Triumi)hant 
226U Angelina's Lover 

VOLUME 151 
<251 OIir\«{i,nthemum« 

2252 Mv First Client 

2253 Punctured 

2254 Old Pals 

2'Lb Honeymoon Tragedy 
22fiC Commission 
22ft7 Hal, the Highwayman 
2258 Dinner for Two 
2269 Ninth Waltz 

2260 Human Sport 

2261 Collaborators 

2262 Mere Man 

2263 Packing Up 
22(54 Paying Quest 
2265 "Enery Brown 

VOLUME 162 

220fi Tlie Jilt 

2207 'Op-o'-Me-Thnm«. 

22G8 A Marri?ige Has Been 

\rranged 
2209 Canots 
E270 Coiivtrslon of Nat 

Sturge 



2271 Clerical Error 

2272 Aubrey Closes the E 

2273 Workbox 

2274 Two on a 'Bus 

2275 Bridget's Blunders 

2276 That Brute Simmoi 

2277 Well Matched 

2278 Maker of Men 

2279 Gutter of Time 
2^80 Game of Chess 

VOLUME 153 

2281 Mr. Steinmann'e 

Comer 

2282 Ella's Apology 

2283 Colour Sergeant 

2284 Helpless Couple 

2285 First Aid to the 

Wounded 

2286 Correct Thing 

2287 Their New Paying 

Guest 

2288 Domestic Entangle- 

ment 

2289 Salt of Life 

2290 Time is Money 

2291 Wally and the Widow 

2292 Deceitful Miss Smiths 
2i93 Holly Tree Inn 

2294 Up to.date 

2295 Bit of Jld Chelsea 




014 642 885 P 



Lucinda 
2310 Uncle Dick's Darling 



VOLUME 154 



the 



2296 Wrong Side of 

Road 

2297 The Open Door 

2298 Prima Donna (Pem- 

bert^n) 

2299 Lights Out(PemDerton) 
2'00 Mirror of Time 

2301 Thi-ee Blind Mice 

(Muskerry) 

2302 Privy Council 

2303 Snowed up with a 

Duchess 



2S11 

2312 
2313 
2314 
2315 
2316 
2317 
2318 
2319 
2320 
232! 
2322 
2323 
2324 
2325 



VOLUME 155 

That Horrid Major 
Bardwell v. Pickwick 
House of Nightingales 
Turtle Dovee (der 

Superior Miss Pellen- 
His Good Genius 
Martha Plays the Fa 
Dumb Cake 
Proposing by Pr 
PliORnix 
Boatswain's M 
Final Rehears 
Two Aunts at 
Nelson Touci 
Convict on t\ 

VOLUMP 



2326 Grey Pan 

2327 Ghost of 

2328 Bishop's 

2329 Peacem? 

2330 Chang< v • 

2331 WireW ''> 

2332 Pride of 

2335 "1588" 
2354 Man on thf 
233t O'Dowd 

2336 Impertinence 

Creature 
2^37 Dramatist at Honve 
233S MartiiatheSootiiF 
2339 Old Mattha Is. 
2i40 AllThnmghMar 



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